Rain didn't stop more than 1,000 people from walking along the Midland Beach Promenade for the "Light the Night" walk, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to fight blood cancers.

"I don't think there's anyone whose been touched by blood cancer who wouldn't be moved to come out here tonight," said Michele Przypyszny, executive director for the society's New York chapter.

Bill Lyons More than 1,000 people took part in the "Light the Night" walk on the Midland Beach Promenade to raise money for blood-related cancers.

Many people carried balloons illuminated balloons -- white ones to signify they were a patient or survivor of blood cancer, red to show they were supporting those fighting the diseases, and gold in honor of loved ones who had died.

Diana Caggiano, 40, of Randall Manor, walked as both a survivor of Hodgkin's lymphoma, and someone who lost a loved one. A year after Mrs. Caggiano's cancer went into remission, her brother Pedro Morale, 32, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in January. He lost his battle with the disease in May.

"It's very emotional. It's very difficult," Mrs. Caggiano said. "In one breath, I'm a cancer survivor. In another breath, I lost my brother."

But she said she said she has to keep on doing whatever she can to find a cure.

"There will be a cure," she said. "That's what I'm fighting for."

Christina Dellaventura, 16, carried a gold balloon and read a poem during the event's remembrance ceremony in honor of her father, Danny Dellaventura, who died when she was just 7.

"He always said he never wanted to be forgotten," Miss Dellaventura said. "To be part of this remembrance ceremony, I think he would be really proud of me."

She sent letters to friends and family urging them to join her at the walk and donate to the cause.

"When I saw how many people responded and donated and came out to walk, it really meant a lot to me," she said.

The goal of all the Light the Night walks in New York City is to raise $3.3 million this year. Ms. Przypyszny said more than $300,000 of that would come from the Staten Island walk.

State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) was honored at the event with the Legislative Leadership Award, for his work on a new law that requires insurance companies to cover oral chemotherapy at the same rate as intravenous treatments. Lanza, who lost his mother Marion Lanza to blood cancer four years ago, said the new law would save money and save lives.

"It may be a rainy fall night here on Staten Island, but I truly believe this is the warmest, sunniest place in the world right now," he said.

Moments later, as the walk stepped off at 7 p.m., the balloons rose and the downpour stopped.